Whenever we think we’ve seen it all with astronomy images, the Hubble Space Telescope astonishes us yet again with a journey to a distant galaxy. When images like this are unveiled, they evoke a surge of emotions and compel us to pause and appreciate the remarkable capabilities of a space telescope and the sheer captivating nature of our universe. Regardless of the subject or the galaxy in view, it transports us to a window into the great unknown, offering a front-row seat to the beauty and mystery of the universe that is only accessible through the eyes of a telescope. Returning back to Earth, let’s delve into what we are seeing in the photo above—a newly released image from the NASA/European Space Agency (ESA) Hubble Space Telescope. This is IC 438, a spiral galaxy located 130 million light-years away from Earth, within the constellation Lepus, surrounded by recognizable star formations like Canis Major, Orion, and Canis Minor.Related: The most amazing Hubble Space Telescope images of all time! The image was captured in 2021 to enable scientists to study the aftermath of a supernova explosion that occurred in 2017 (from our perspective here on Earth). Although the immediate aftermath or the moment of the explosion is not visible in this image, it narrates a significant astronomical story.”With Hubble’s detailed angular resolution at visible wavelengths, astronomers can now examine the stars in the vicinity of the supernova, enabling them to better determine the age and type of star that exploded,” shared Chris Evans, ESA’s Hubble project scientist, on Tuesday (Jan. 23). “This is a great example of how Hubble’s unique capabilities at ultraviolet and optical wavelengths continue to provide us with exhilarating new perspectives of the universe.”Lepus is part of the family of 88 constellations recognized by the International Astronomical Union (IAU), established in 1919 with a mission to “promote and safeguard the science of astronomy in all its aspects (including research, communication, education, and development),” as stated on its homepage. Every unique picture taken throughout the universe unveils a story and contributes to discovering and learning from a new part of history.”In conjunction with the powerful infrared capabilities of the NASA/ESA/CSA James Webb Space Telescope, Hubble’s imaging and spectroscopy at shorter wavelengths furnish us with vital information necessary to advance our comprehension of objects such as supernovae and other astronomical transients,” Evans stated.
